Can you make a flocking machine using batteries

[Nick]

Hi Guys,
I want to make a flocking machine at home for me and my son to use but don't want the high voltage, is it possible to make a machine that uses batteries? C or D size?

[Ray (Flock Man)]

Hey nick,

Even if you use a c or d cell you'll still be dealing with high voltage because how the system is made.
Say you buy a 12 volt generator and use a 9volt type battery in it you'll still be looking at 5000+ volts on the out put. Keep in mind though it's 5000 volts, but little or no current. Also keep in mind that a common shock from say a rug in the winter can run around 30 to 50kV (30,0000 to 50,0000 volts), but it also has little or no current. so what you are looking at is, the danger in the unit is the input either 120 volts or 9 or 12 volts because that has current along with it. Now if you look on the links page there will be a company that sells high voltage units that are pretty safe for a kid to use (with an adult of course)
www.amazing1.com/hv-dc-power-supplies.htm
Scroll down until you see the shock-less units (the units that do not produce any joules)
Now of course I wouldn't use any of these while standing in water or with a coffee in my hand, etc., etc.
I can tell you first hand that I once had a joke lighter and a joke gum packet from Spencer's gifts at the mall and the shock from that seemed a lot stronger than the shock of one of these units used for a flocker. This all being said, still would use any unit even a simple flash light with care. I mean a hair dryer or toaster is far more dangerous over all. Many things we use ever day are more dangerous if use incorrectly. Heck just the gas grill outside on the deck could flatten out your house or the gas in the gas can used for the lawn mower. Point being most of the danger is in who and how an item is used. I use the flocking unit daily and even when I've forgotten to turn it off and received a little zap from it all it did was make me jump like you would from a static rug shock. I've had more of a jolt from a spark plug wire or even a poorly wired light fixture.

I see people let there kids use small talking McDonald's toys in the tub or pool and don't realize that the mercury leaking from those small batteries into the water may also be harmful.

So even if you bought the 12volt dc unit from electronic goldmine and ran it off of 8 AA batteries you'd still have 5000 to 15,000 volts on the output (again that's with little or no current) (current/amps kill) because it's a multiplier circuit

Ray